Category Archives: Recipes

Good Gourd, You’ll Love This Baked Pumpkin Protein Donut Recipe!

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Another protein donut recipe just in time for Thanksgiving morning! Oven-baked, scaled down in size and packed with nutritious, anti-oxidant filled pumpkin puree, there’s not much more you could want in a breakfast treat or late-night snack. Oh, except for protein, fabulous PROTEIN! I’ve snuck in a wallop of whey powder to give these goodies some sticking power. Really, you can use any flavor of protein powder you like from vanilla to cake batter (really!).  This time I used an unflavored brand of whey protein from BiPro so that the natural flavors of the pumpkin spices would shine through. You can make these protein doughnuts ahead and keep in the freezer until you’re ready to munch; just defrost and warm slightly in the microwave before dusting with the cinnamon sugar.

Baked Pumpkin Protein Mini Donuts Recipe

  • 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree
  • 1 egg
  • ¾ cup egg whites
  • ½ cup canola oil
  • 1 ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup white all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup whole-wheat flour
  • ¾ cup whey protein powder (unflavored or vanilla)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • Topping: additional sugar and cinnamon

 Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.

In large bowl, use a spatula to mix together pumpkin, eggs, oil, and sugar.

In another bowl, mix together remaining dry ingredients including flours, protein powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.

Mix combined dry ingredients into pumpkin mixture, and stir, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, until well-mixed.

Line a large 32 or 44 ounce cup with a 1-gallon zip-top bag, folding excess length down over sides of cup. Spoon in batter and secure top; snip a 1/2 inch triangle out of bottom corner to serve as your “pastry bag.”

Squeeze batter from bag into mini-donut tin, filling about halfway full.  If you don’t have a donut pan, use a muffin tin instead (donuts will like muffins though, obviously).  Give tins a spritz of baking spray in they don’t have a non-stick coating.

Bake in 350 F degree oven for approximately 12 – 15 minutes or until turning golden and springy to touch.  Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 2 – 3 minutes.

Flip out of pan and gently toss in zip-top bag or bowl filled with ¾ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon.

Makes 36 mini-donuts.

Nutrition Information (per 1 mini doughnut)

 

 

‘Fall’ in Love With Black Bean-Pumpkin Soup

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Even though it’s really not that cold yet in my part of the world, I’m ready to slurp me some soup. I love making a hearty soup for dinner; it is soul satisfying and the leftovers are always better the second day!  I came up with this Black Bean-Pumpkin Soup recipe last autumn when they finally put the canned pumpkin back on the store shelves. I’m like Bubba Gump for this ginormous squash – pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin lasagna, pumpkin enchiladas and more. You could bake and smash your own pumpkin, but who has that kind of time? Try this healthy, vegetarian recipe tonight. It’s packed with protein from the beans and loaded with vital vitamins from the pumpkin. The dollop of light sour cream adds a satisfying touch and eliminates the need for any kind of fattening topping.

 

Black Bean-Pumpkin Soup Recipe

  • 2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
  • 2 medium onions, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons bourbon, optional
  • 1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
  • 1/2 cup roasted salted pumpkin seeds

Place beans and tomatoes in a food processor; cover and process until blended. Set aside.

In a Dutch oven, saute onions in oil until tender. Add garlic and cumin; saute 1 minute longer. Stir in the broth, pumpkin, vinegar, pepper and bean mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Stir in bourbon if desired. Garnish each serving with sour cream, green onions and pumpkin seeds. Yield: 8 servings (2 quarts).

Nutritional Facts: 1 cup equals 238 calories, 8 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 5 mg cholesterol, 716 mg sodium, 30 g carbohydrate, 9 g fiber, 13 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1-1/2 fat, 1 lean meat, 1 vegetable.

I Know ‘Jack’ About Sauce – My Apple Honey BBQ Sauce with a Bite Recipe

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As the end of October nears, I’m feeling a bit nostalgic for one of the most sensory-overloaded food experiences of my life (to date) – the 2004 Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue. This annual event, held in Lynchburg, Tennessee, features barbecue teams from all over the globe who come together to smoke, season and sear their best recipes to the delight of more than 25,000 spectators. Let me tell you, this shindig isn’t about tossing some hotdogs and burgers on the grill; it’s an epicurean extravaganza that is serious, serious business. I figured that out early on the first morning when the big rigs rolled in and started setting up some epic-sized barbeque pits. Plus, you’ve got to be a state or national champion just to get an invite!

Now, the particular year I was lucky enough to sample my way through what is fondly called “The Jack,” I was a guest of the famous whiskey distillery. Apparently they took a liking to my Apple Honey BBQ Sauce with a Bite (keep reading to find recipe below) and said, “come on down!”  I have to disclose that I am not a huge whiskey drinker, but it is pretty darn good in a recipe – just wait until I share my whiskey onion soup recipe!

Part of the barbeque boondoggle included a seat at the prestigious Kansas City Barbeque Society judging certification course, definitely the most gut-busting class I’ve ever taken.  I learned all the important details of upholding my responsibilities as an official  BBQ judge including spotting the various barbecue cooking methods, the nuances between regional barbeque flavors, and a deeper appreciation for the three main criteria of BBQ judging – appearance, taste and tenderness.

As you can imagine, this job required a lot of meat sampling. I feared falling short of the official oath I had just taken, so I made sure to polish off every last morsel of meat. Let me tell you, I was as stuffed as a turkey on Thanksgiving, but I did finish, finally waddling away four hours later with my official KCBS judge’s badge and certificate suitable for framing

kansas city barbeque society judge badge

KCBS Credentials! Wonder what would happen if I walked into Rudy’s or Salt Lick with by badge? Oh, and that’s ole Jack Daniels in the b&w photo.

The next day, I was actually still so full that I had to pass on my judging assignment. Instead of wallowing in my failure as a carnivorous critic, I hoofed it around the festival and watched the various teams battle it off tong to tong, slop mop to slop mop. After nearly a full day of this moderate exercise and inhaling the delicious smells, my appetite thankfully returned. Dashing back to the judging arena, I made it just in time for the ‘dessert’ category – all things are definitely made better with Jack Daniel’s Whiskey!

Now, next time you’re firing up the ‘cue, whip up a batch of my Apple Honey BBQ Sauce with a Bite, the perfect sauce for beef, chicken, pork or whatever you’ve got grilling!

Apple Honey BBQ Sauce with a Bite Recipe

  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup oil
  • 2 medium onions, minced
  • 2/3 cup Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup apple juice
  • ½ cup honey
  • ½ cup dark molasses
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Melt butter in large saucepan, add oil. Raise temperature to medium and sauté onions until caramelizing and golden brown. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low and simmer for approximately 40 minutes until thickened.

 

Fight Tendonitis the Tasty Way – Mini Turmeric & Tomato Frittatas Recipe

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Did you know that the spice turmeric has been proven to ease the aches and pains of tendonitis? Distinctive with its warm and faintly citrusy flavor, the yellowish-brown spice (related to ginger) releases a chemical compound called ‘curcumin’ that effectively reduces the inflammation process found in many tendon diseases, or so say British researchers. This isn’t the only benefit of curcumin, its powerful anti-oxidant properties have also been shown to regulate blood sugar and fight cancer.

Since the hubby and I have been suffering from a little ‘golf elbow’ and ‘tennis elbow’ respectively, I decided to give this super-spice from across the seas a starring role in our weekend breakfast – Mini Turmeric & Tomato Frittatas. Oh my gosh, don’t get me started on the health benefits of tomatoes! Sticking with the tendonitis theme here, let me just condense my kudos with one tomato factoid – the flavorful fruit is high in bioflavonoids and carotenoids, which are also known anti-inflammatory agents. Tomato and turmeric, what a powerhouse pair! You’ll also notice quite a bit of ground black pepper punching up this egg dish; that’s because the body absorbs turmeric up to 2,000 times better when taken along with black pepper.

Aside from keeping your knees, elbows and other body parts in tip-top shape, another perk of this recipe is that the remainder of the batch can be frozen and then defrosted in the microwave for a fast ‘first aid’ fix for hunger (and hurts) that hit anytime of the day or night.

Mini Tumeric & Tomato Frittatas Recipe

  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup egg whites
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1.5 teaspoons ground tumeric
  • 1.5 teaspoons ground black pepper
  • 3/4 cup shredded cheese of choice
  • ½ cup diced red onion
  • 36 grape tomatoes, quartered (or 1 cup diced tomatoes)

Preheat oven to 375F degrees. Generously coat 12-cup standard muffin tin with cooking spray. In bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites, milk, salt, pepper and turmeric; pour into muffin tins, filling each tin about 1/2 to 2/3s full. In sauté pan, cook red onions over medium heat until softened, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook another 2 minutes. Divide veggies up evenly over egg mixture. Sprinkle cheese on top of each. Bake approximately 20 minutes or until set in the center. Once removed from oven, let sit for a couple minutes before running a knife around rims to loosen. Turn tin gently upside down to remove. Makes 12.

Nutrition Information

“Jar” Going to Love Lunch! Ancho-Chile Chopped Chicken Salad Recipe

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Genius, pure genius in a jar! I’ve been seeing these healthy-eating, eco-friendly salads splashed across the pages of my favorite food magazines, so it was only a matter of time before I had to create my own version – Ancho-Chile Chopped Chicken Salad in a Jar. The concept is simple, layer ingredients in a 2 cup capacity glass canning jar from the bottom up, starting with the most “sturdy” ingredients that won’t turn limp spitting in a bit of salad dressing and finishing with the most delicate items up top.

Perfect for lunch on the go; and that’s whether you’re stuck behind a desk or lucky enough to be picnicking after a run. While you do your thing in the morning, the salad waits patiently in the fridge or a lunch cooler. The various flavors are deliciously mingling, waiting for that final “shake up” of salad dressing just before you are ready to dig in. Eat this salad right out of the jar or spoon over a plate of baby greens if you’re feeling fancy. Not only will you be saving money by not eating out, you’ll be saving the world from the number of wasteful throwaway containers that end up in landfills.  After you’re done, just take your jar home, wash it out and start over again!

Ancho-Chile Chopped Chicken Salad in a Jar Recipe

  •  2 ounces fresh lime juice (about 1 large lime)
  • 1 ounce olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons ancho chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup black beans, rinsed
  • ½ cup shredded chicken
  • 1/3 cup corn kernels, roasted
  • 1/3 cup quartered grape tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons chopped red onion
  • 1 tablespoon shredded fresh cilantro

In a small lidded bottle (or with a bowl and whisk), make the dressing by adding the lime juice, olive oil, ancho chili powder, cumin and honey. Put lid on bottle and shake vigorously for about 1 minute to combine. Season with salt and pepper, if needed.

In 16-ounce canning jar, add the black beans. Pour 2 tablespoons of dressing over the beans. Next layer the remaining ingredients (leave about ½ to 1-inch of headroom at the top of jar. Reserve additional dressing for use on another day. Put lid on jar and refrigerate salad until ready to eat, even overnight. To serve, gently shake jar until ingredients are coated with dressing and somewhat “mixed” up.  Eat straight from jar or any other way you see fit!

Serves 1

Nutrition Information